On a quiet night in Albuquerque in March 1996, a routine closing shift at a neighborhood video store turned into one of the city’s most haunting crimes. What began as a robbery at a local Hollywood Video escalated into a brutal chain of events that left five people dead, including two grandparents who arrived at the wrong place at the wrong time.

In this episode, we unpack the timeline, the investigation, and the lasting impact of the Hollywood Video Murders. From the lives of the victims to the arrests of Shane Harrison and Esther Beckley, we explore how a single night shattered a sense of safety for an entire community, and why, decades later, the echoes of that night still linger.

Art By the Pixie

References

• Albuquerque Journal. (1996, March–April). Coverage of the Hollywood Video killings. Retrieved from https://www.abqjournal.com (Search: “Hollywood Video murders Albuquerque 1996”)
• The New York Times. (1996, March 6). 5 Are Slain in New Mexico Video Store Robbery. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com
• Associated Press. (1996). Reports on Albuquerque video store killings. Available via multiple archives (e.g., Google News Archive).
• KOAT-TV. (Various years). Cold case and anniversary coverage of the Hollywood Video murders. Retrieved from https://www.koat.com
• KRQE News 13. (Various years). Remembering the Hollywood Video murders. Retrieved from https://www.krqe.com
• State of New Mexico v. Harrison, court records (1996–1998). (Available via New Mexico court archives or legal databases such as Justia or Lexis summaries.)
• Murderpedia. (n.d.). Shane Harrison. Retrieved from https://murderpedia.org

Unwrap this insane case of murder in this true-crime episode from The Arkins Hearth, which explores the 1999 disappearance of Girly Chew Hossencofft in Albuquerque, uncovering a calculated, body-less murder driven by deception, control, and chilling ideology.

Art by the Pixie

References

Barrett, J. (2002). No body homicide cases: Legal strategies and challenges. Journal of Criminal Law, 45(3), 233–251.

McGaffin, J. (2002). The Hossencofft case: A study in circumstantial evidence. Albuquerque Journal Archives.

New Mexico v. Hossencofft, 2002-NMSC-005 (New Mexico Supreme Court).

Ochoa, J. (2001). Conviction without a body: The evolving standards of proof. American Criminal Review, 38(4), 1275–1302.

State of New Mexico v. Henning, CR-1999-XXXX (District Court Records).

State of New Mexico v. Reid, CR-1999-XXXX (District Court Records).

Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2000). Behavioral analysis in no-body homicide cases. FBI Law Enforcement

Step beyond the ordinary and into the surreal as we explore Meow Wolf—the mind-bending art collective redefining what an “experience” can be. In this episode, our four hosts share their firsthand journeys through the original House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe, from crawling through hidden passageways to unraveling the strange, interconnected storylines buried inside the walls. We swap personal moments of confusion, awe, and even a little existential dread, as one of us compares experiences between Santa Fe and Convergence Station in Denver, revealing how each location builds its own unique universe. We also look ahead to Meow Wolf’s expanding future, including new locations on the horizon and the upcoming tabletop role-playing game that promises to bring its chaotic, creative worlds right to your own table. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to step inside a living story, or just want to hear what happens when four people try to make sense of it, this episode pulls you into the mystery.

Original Art by the Pixie